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Furtive vs Discreet - What's the difference?

furtive | discreet |

As adjectives the difference between furtive and discreet

is that furtive is stealthy while discreet is respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic.

furtive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • stealthy
  • Exhibiting guilty or evasive secrecy.
  • * 1949 , George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four , p31
  • But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control.

    Synonyms

    * (stealthy) surreptitious * See also

    Derived terms

    * furtively * furtiveness

    discreet

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic.
  • With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
    John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet .
  • Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.
  • Usage notes

    * Do not confuse with discrete .

    Derived terms

    * discreetly * discretion

    Anagrams

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